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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Except as noted below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2026, under the heading Item 1A. Risk Factors, except as set forth below, and investors should review the risks provided in the Annual Report and below, prior to making an investment in the Company. The business, financial condition and operating results of the Company can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described in the Annual Report and below, any one or more of which could, directly or indirectly, cause the Companys actual financial condition and operating results to vary materially from past, or from anticipated future, financial condition and operating results. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Companys business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.
Geopolitical Conflict and Disruptions to Global Energy Markets, Including Risks Associated with the Strait of Hormuz, May Adversely Affect Our Business, Financial Condition, and Results of Operations
Ongoing geopolitical conflict involving Iran and other countries in the Middle East has created significant volatility and uncertainty in global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the worlds oil supply and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas flows, has experienced material disruption, including reduced vessel traffic, military activity, and heightened security risks.
Although our operations are domestic, our business is indirectly exposed to global energy market conditions. Disruptions to supply, transportation constraints, or perceived risks of interruption in the Strait of Hormuz or surrounding regions may result in significant commodity price volatility, including rapid increases or decreases in oil and natural gas prices, as well as dislocations in supply chains and end markets.
In addition, military escalation or collateral damage affecting energy infrastructure, shipping routes, or regional production facilities in the Middle East may further exacerbate global supply shortages, increase input and operating costs, and contribute to broader macroeconomic instability, including inflationary pressures or recessionary conditions. These conditions may adversely impact demand for our products and services, disrupt capital markets, and impair our ability to access financing on acceptable terms.
Our ongoing development of a domestic industrial gas project, including the production and commercialization of helium and other gases, may also be adversely affected by such geopolitical events. Supply chain disruptions, equipment procurement delays, cost inflation, or volatility in industrial gas pricing could delay project timelines, increase capital expenditures, or reduce expected returns.
Furthermore, geopolitical instability may result in heightened regulatory scrutiny, trade restrictions, sanctions, or changes in U.S. energy policy, any of which could adversely affect our operations, counterparties, or strategic initiatives. The extent and duration of these risks remain uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Risks Associated with theour Helium Sales Agreement
We have entered into a five-year helium sales agreement with an investment-grade counterparty that commits substantially all future helium production from our planned Big Sky project at a largely fixed price. While the agreement provides revenue visibility and supports project financing, it limits our ability to benefit from higher helium prices, may expose us to margin compression if production or inflation-related costs exceed the contract price, and restricts our flexibility to sell to alternative buyers on more favorable terms. The agreement also exposes us to counterparty, operational, commencement, and future price redetermination risks. As a result, the agreement could constrain our upside and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Construction and EPC Execution Risk
The Companys ability to successfully develop its gas processing facility depends on the timely and cost-effective execution of its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement and the completion of both offsite fabrication and onsite construction activities. These efforts are subject to a variety of risks, including potential delays in engineering design, procurement of critical equipment, module fabrication, transportation logistics, site preparation, and field construction. The Company may also encounter cost overruns due to labor shortages, inflationary pressures, contractor performance issues, supply chain disruptions, adverse weather conditions, or unforeseen site or subsurface conditions. In addition, integration risks between offsite fabricated components and onsite installation could result in rework, inefficiencies, or commissioning delays. Any such delays or cost increases could materially impact the project schedule, capital expenditures, and expected timing of initial operations, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future changes to U.S. tax laws and regulations, including potential changes to carbon capture incentives, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
From time to time, legislative and regulatory proposals are introduced that could significantly affect the U.S. tax treatment of companies engaged in industrial gas, oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production. These proposals have included, among other items, the elimination of the immediate deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas properties, changes to the treatment of certain domestic production activities, and the extension of amortization periods for geological and geophysical expenditures. The enactment of any such changes, or other similar measures that reduce or eliminate tax benefits currently available to our industry, could increase our tax burden, reduce cash flows, and adversely impact the economics of our projects.
In addition, our business strategy includes the development of carbon management initiatives that may be eligible for federal tax incentives, including credits available under Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code for the capture and sequestration or utilization of carbon dioxide. The availability, value, and timing of benefits under Section 45Q depend on a number of factors, including final regulatory guidance, compliance with detailed technical and operational requirements, verification and reporting obligations, and our ability to place qualifying facilities in service and operate them in accordance with applicable standards. Legislative, regulatory, or administrative changes could reduce, delay, or eliminate the availability of these credits, including changes to eligibility thresholds, credit amounts, transferability provisions, or recapture rules. In addition, failure to satisfy applicable requirements or to sustain qualifying operations over the required period could result in the loss or recapture of previously claimed credits. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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